Alex Morgan has brought the receipts, detailing how much NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird knew in regards to allegations brought against former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley.
Riley has been accused of sexually coercing and emotionally abusing multiple players. He was fired by the North Carolina Courage on Thursday.
(1/3)The league was informed of these allegations multiple times and refused multiple times to investigate the allegations. The league must accept responsibility for a process that failed to protect its own players from this abuse. https://t.co/KDRBhhVBcT— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) September 30, 2021
(1/3)The league was informed of these allegations multiple times and refused multiple times to investigate the allegations. The league must accept responsibility for a process that failed to protect its own players from this abuse. https://t.co/KDRBhhVBcT
“The league was informed of these allegations multiple times and refused multiple times to investigate the allegations,” Morgan wrote. “The league must accept responsibility for a process that failed to protect its own players from this abuse.”
Morgan’s response comes following the NWSL and commissioner Lisa Baird’s response to the allegations, in which Baird said she was “shocked and disgusted” to learn of the new allegations against Riley.
However in two emails written between Sinead Farrelly and Baird in April, it appears Baird was made known of at least some of the allegations.
“I am writing to report that when I was a player for the Portland Thorns in 2015, I not only witnessed but also experienced firsthand extremely inappropriate conduct by Mr. Riley,” Farrelly wrote in the email.
(2/3) pic.twitter.com/pkwBEXPYYo— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) September 30, 2021
(2/3) pic.twitter.com/pkwBEXPYYo
In her email, Farrelly outlined that she was bringing her complaint to the league’s attention in accordance with the recently implemented anti-harassment policy.
“I am bringing this to the League’s attention so that I can understand what steps, if any, the League intends to take in connection with the inappropriate conduct that was initially reported, given the apparent failure of the NWSL to take any action to protect players in response to the initial complaint.”
In response, Baird said that the initial complaint was “investigated to conclusion” before wishing Farrelly “the best.”
(3/3) pic.twitter.com/BkGlHsPiV4— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) September 30, 2021
(3/3) pic.twitter.com/BkGlHsPiV4
Morgan’s tweets come amidst a firestorm following allegations against Riley detailing numerous accounts of sexual coercion and emotional abuse.
Morgan’s USWNT teammate Megan Rapinoe has been vocal in her support of the players (and critical of the NWSL) throughout the developing saga.
Never once during this whole time was the right person protected. Not Mana, not Sinead, not us not the players not the little girls who will become us not the big girls who already are us not any of US. This statement is beyond disrespectful. https://t.co/HDPkFhFEc6— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) September 30, 2021
Never once during this whole time was the right person protected. Not Mana, not Sinead, not us not the players not the little girls who will become us not the big girls who already are us not any of US. This statement is beyond disrespectful. https://t.co/HDPkFhFEc6